Vending machine



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TORNEY Patented Oct. 20, 1942 VENDIN G MACHINE Raymond Loewy, New York, N. Y., and Harry A. Drew, Cliflside Park, N. J.

Application March 7, 1940, Serial No. 322,744

Claims.

Our invention relates to neW and useful improvements in vending machines and more particularly to portable vending machines of a type adapted for use in service stations and the like, and in which the mobile mounting of the machine permits of its being rolled to a position adjacent a motor car While the latter is being serviced.

A motorist frequently wishes to purchase refreshments, tobacco, etc. while his automobile is being refueled and serviced. The present invention is embodied in a device which Will greatly facilitate fullling the motorists requirements and because of its Wholly automatic character the service station operator is relieved of the necessity of providing a counter attendant to serve such purchases.

It is acco-rdingly one object of theinvention to provide a device of the character described which shall be simple and economical of manufacture, highly mobile and adapted to make available a Wide selection of products of different character.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a vending device which shall be readily movable to a position accessible for use, and in Which discontinuance of the moving force will automatically serve to lock the device in the position in which it is left. l

Other objects and advantages will be apparent in the accompanying drawings taken in combination with the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, although it will be understood that many modications may be made in the invention Without departing from the spirit thereof as set forth in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a device embodying the invention, part of the casing being broken away to reveal the interior construction.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational View showing one form of the selecting mechanism.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of certain parts of the selecting mechanism shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed View of part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of part or the selecting mechanism shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed View of certain door controlling means shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged detail view of part of the mechanism of Fig. 5.

Fig. S is an enlarged detail View taken along the line i-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view taken along the line 9 9 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detailedview taken along the line lil-l!) of Fig. 5.

Fig. ll is an end elevational View of the structural detail shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged elevational view of an upper and lower dispensing compartment together with the compartment door controlling means.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged elevation of the door controlling mechanism shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a plan View of the mechanism shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. l5 is a detailed View of part of the structure shown in Figs. 13 and 14.

Fig. 16 illustrates the position of certain of the parts of the package ejecting mechanism when the door is in both open and closed positions.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged end elevation of part of the package ejecting mechanism shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 16.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged detailed view of a full stroke mechanism employed in the door controlling means of Figs. 12 and 16.

Fig. 19 is an enlarged elevational view of a coin slot employed in the structure shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

Fig. 20 is a table indicating some of the coin combinations which may be utilized in the operation of the device.

Fig. 21 is a top plan view of a preferred form of chassis.

' Fig. 22 is an enlarged elevational view of part of the chassis structure shown in Fig. 21.

Fig. 23 is a detailed View of part of the means employed to control the chassis shown in Fig. 21.

Fig. 24 is a diagram of an illuminating circuit used in connection with the invention. y

Fig. 25 is a diagram of a Warning signal circuit energized as an incident to the commodity in any compartment of the machine becoming eX- hausted.

Fig. 25 is a diagram of an alternative form of the circuit shown in Fig. 25.

Fig. 27 is a fragmentary elevation of manual means to release the doors of the compartments shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 28 is a fragmentary elevation of part of the coin handling mechanism.

Fig. 29 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the structure underlying the coin cylinders of Fig. 2.

Fig. 30 is a top plan view of the structure underlying the coin cylinders of Fig. 29.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the form of a mobile unit which may be readily Wheeled from place to place to acccmmodate prospective purchasers. Generally, the device comprises an upper rotatable vending head I3 which surmounts a lower, or body portion II.

The body portion of the machine is mounted on a chassis illustrated more particularly in Figures 21 and 22 to which reference will now be had.

A pair of similar, spaced cross frames i2 and I3, are turned downwardly adjacent their respective ends as indicated particularly at I4 in Fig. 22 to provide arcuate bearing seats for hubs I5 fixed to Wheels l5. Tie pieces II, connected between the cross frame members function to hold the latter in rigid spaced relationship and at the same time to maintain the hubs I5 in the position shown in the drawings.

The cross frames I2 and I3 support a pair of overlying longitudinally extending frame members i8 which, as will be seen, are preferably U shaped channels united at their respective ends by similar bearing plates I9 and 2B. A xed axle shaft 2l, extends between, and is journalled at its ends in the internal body of hubs l5 thus lending rigidity to the chassis.

A yoke 22, anchored in any desirable way between the bearing plates 2li operatively supports a wheel 23.

A yoke 24 is operatively supported between the bearing plates I9 for rotation on a vertical axis deiined by a bearing pin 25, the respective ends of which are engaged in suitable apertures formed in the bearing plates. As will be obvious from an examination of Figs. 1 and 25, the yoke 24 is provided with an inwardly extending tongue 25 between which, and a cross bar 21, a spring 28 is connected. It will be obvious that spring 23 will normally act to maintain yoke 24 in alignment with yoke 22. A wheel 29 carried by the outer ends of the arms of yoke 24 completes the wheeled equipment of the chassis.

Reverting now to Fig. 1: it will be seen that the wheels I6 are relatively larger in diameter than wheels 23 and 23, as a consequence of which only one of the latter two wheels will contact the ground.

Furthermore, the construction described is such that when it is desirable to move the device, its entire weight can be balanced upon the Wheels I 3, thus raising wheels 22 and 29 from the ground so as to permit of free manipulation in extremely small areas.

The wheel 29, by virtue of its pivotal support on the pin 25, is capable of being steered so that if desired the device may be permitted to rest on the wheels I6 and the wheel 29, and yet be moved about with great facility.

To prevent free rolling of the device such as may be induced by the drainage angle of filling station floors, we have provided means to lock the machine in any position to which it may be moved. To this end, pairs of similar, rigid steel tubes project through the lower body portion II of the machine, one such pair being indicated as 33 and 3| in Figure 1, a second pair being shown at 32 and 33. The external portions of these pairs of tubes lie in a common plane extending longitudinally of the axis of the wheels 22 and 29 as will be clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 21. it will be understood that both pairs of tubes 30, 3i and 32, 33 are rigidly connected to the body portion I I, as for example by collars or nuts such as is indicated at 34 in Fig. 1. The respective outer ends of the pairs of tubes are turned toward each other adjacent their ends, as shown in detail in Fig. 23, and similar hand grips 35 are provided at their respective junctures.

Referring now to Figs. 21 and 22. The tube 33 extends downwardly through the lower body portion of the device to terminate at a bracket plate 33.

As shown particularly in Fig. 22, the bracket plate 3S is turned upwardly throughout the length of its lateral edges to provide flanges 31 which engage and are secured to the under surfaces of the cross bars I2 and I3.

Now referring again to Fig. 2l, the tube 3| will be seen to terminate at the plate 3S in a position diametrically opposite to that of the terminus of tube 33.

Similarly, tubes 32 and 33 project inwardly and downwardly through the housing to terminate at the plate 33 in respectively opposite positions from those of tubes 30 and 3I.

Throughout their lengths, the tubes 3G to 33 inclusive, as indicated in Fig. 23, are lled with bearing balls 38 extending from a point adjacent the lower ends of the tubes (Fig. 22) to a point adjacent the outer ends of the tubes as shown in Fig. 23. Now considering the construction of Fig. 23, the hand grip 35 as has been adverted to, embraces the inwardly turned ends of the tubes, being provided with a central bore 39 for that purpose. Intermediate their ends, the hand grips are cut away as shown at 43 to provide a recess in which a movable segment 4I is supported.

Compression or squeezing of the segment 4I functions to communicate movement to the bearing balls 33. In this connection, the segment 4I is formed with a wedge shaped member 42 which lies between, and substantially in a plane common to the diameter of the ends of the respective tubes. Wedge 42 is formed with camming surfaces 43 and 44 which engage the complementary surfaces of plungers 45, freely supported in the ends of the tubes. To prevent rotation of plungers 45, with consequent displacement of their camming surfaces from contact with the camming surfaces of wedge 42, pins 46 are xed to, and project inwardly from the inner surface of segment 4I, and the inner wall of the hand grip is counterbored at 4l to permit the movable segment 4I to assume the extreme inner or leftward position as indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 23. Similarly, the inner wall of the hand grip is cut away as shown at 42-A to accommodate the wedge shaped member 42 when the latter assumes the dotted line position shown in the drawing. Now it will be apparent that compression of the segment 4I of the hand grip 35 will operate to drive the bearing balls 38 downwardly through their respective tubes 30, 3l or 32, 33 dependent upon which one of the two hand grips is engaged. As will now be explained, this last mentioned movement of the bearing balls 38 is utilized to unlock the wheel braking mechanism.

Reverting to Fig. 22, the bracket plate 38 is formed with four apertures 48, one such aperture being aligned with the lower end of each of the respective tubes 30 to 33 inclusive. A shouldered piston 49 is freely slidable in each of said apertures and their respective lower ends rest against a floating brake operating plate 55. The plate 5i) is yieldably maintained in the position shown in Fig 22 by a spring 5I carried on a pin 52 which projects upwardly from plate 53 through a suitable aperture in the bracket 33. Spring 5I acts between the shouldered upper end of pin 52 and the surface of bracket 36 to exert an upwardly acting force upon the plate 59. It will be understood that the upward movement of plate 59 under the influence of spring is limited by engagement of the upper ends of shouldered pistons 49 with the under surface of bracket 36.

A downwardly projecting arm 53, formed integrally with, or fixed to the under surface of plate 59, is operatively connected adjacent its lowerv end with links 54 and 55. Link '54 is connected to a non-rotatable brake element 56 which is preferably keyed to the shaft 2| so as to permit of free sliding movement thereon. Brake element 55 is provided with a clutching face 51 which co-acts with a face on the rotatable hub member I5.

It will now be obvious that compression of the movable segment 4| of hand grip 35 will cause the bearing balls 38 to drive a pair of the headed pistons 49 downwardly against the action of spring 5|. rIhis movement of plate 59, communicated to arm 53, will operate to withdraw the brake element 56 from engagement with the face on the rotatable hub member I5 thus permittingv wheel |6 to rotate. It will be understood that a similar braking construction is employed with respect to the second wheel 6 and that this mechanism (not sh-own) will be actuated by the link 55 so that both wheels 2| will be released by operation of hand grip segment 4 I.

It was pointed out heretofore that the hand grips on the pairs of tubes 39, 3| and 32, 33 were identical in construction and operation, so that grasping of either one and compression of segment 4| will serve to release the brakes and thus permit free wheeling of the device to any desired position. Subsequent releasing of the hand grips permits the spring 5| to again elevate the plate 59, driving the ball bearings 38 to their original position as shown in Fig. 23, thus returning the segment 4| from its dotted line position to its full line position.

To prevent the possibility of cooking or tilting of the plate 59 and for the further purpose of controlling the extent of the brake releasing force, we have provided the following construction: Pins 56, connected to and extending upwardly from the plate 59 adjacent its four corners project through suitable apertures 51 in the bracket 36 one such aperture being provided for each of the four pins 56.

The upper ends of pins 56 are connected by means of springs 58 to angle lugs 59 by means of adjusting screws 69. The lugs 59 are rigidly attached to the upper surfaces of cross-frame members |2 and I3 so that rotation of the adjusting screws 69 will be effective to regulate the tension exerted by the springs 58. Hence the plate 59 will be urged upwardly by a uniform force at each of its four corners.

Reverting now to Figs. 1 and 2, the upper edgev of the lower body portion is formed to define aY shelf 6| upon which an annular ring bearing 62 is carried. The ring bearing 62 enables the upper portion of the machine I9, which has heretofore been referred to as the vending head, to be rotated so as to present any one of several pairs of radially arranged dispensing compartments. The upper ones of the pairs of dispensing compartments are indicated at 63 in Figs. 1 and 2 and the lower compartments are identified by the numeral 64.

The vending head is rotated for the purpose of placing any one of its pairs of upper and lower compartments in operative alignment with compartment door releasing mechanism as shown more particularly in Figs. 1 to 13, inclusive.

As shown in Fig. 1, a stationary coin receptacle 65 extends diametrically across the top of the machine. Its endwalls 66 lie substantially in the plane of a tangent to a hand rail 61 carried on the movable head |9. Thus when the contents of any particular compartment is desired the purchaser grasps rail 61 and rotates the movable head I9 until a mark 69 on the hand rail, corresponding to that compartment, is aligned with an arrow 68 on the lower edge of end wall 66 of coin receptacle 65. It will be understood that a mark 69, is Aprovided on the hand rail for each pair of compartments 63 and 64. Supported on the lower, or stationary part of the device is an outwardly extending portion 15 of the housing I I which operatively supports an upper door releasing knob 16, a lower door releasing knob 11, a coin return knob 18, and a coin return chute 19.

Referring now particularlyto Fig. 2 in which an upper and lower compartment are shown in operative alignment with the beforeinentioned releasing mechanisms:

The upper compartment releasing knob 16 is mounted 0n a short shaft 65, the inner end of which forms one element of a coupling member including a bifurcated part 86 pinned to a shaft 81 which in turn is journalled in a downwardly projecting bearing bracket 9S. Shaft 81 carries one element 89 of a clutch 99, the second partv of which 9|, is carried on a shaft 92 journalled in a downwardly projecting bearing bracket 93 Bearing brackets 88 and 93 are fixed to the under surface of the bottom wall 89 of lower compartment 64 and consequently partake of the movement'of the latter. A pinion 93A is fixed to the inner end of shaft 92 and meshes with an idler pinion 94 carried by a stud 95 which in turn is supported by the bracket 93.

The idler pinion 94 meshes with a gear 96 keyed to a short shaft 91 which forms one element of a coupling 98 which includes a bifurcated part 99. The coupling part 99 is carried by a short shaft |99 which is journalled in a bearing bracket |9I, the inner end of the shaft being provided with a bevelled pinion |92. Bevelled pinion |92 meshes with a corresponding pinion |93 carried on the lower end of a shaft |99 which is journalled adjacent its lower extremity in a shelf |95 and at its upper end in the plate |96. Between the shelf |95 and bearing plate |96, the shaft |94 is fitted with similar gears |91 and |98 which, as will be seen from an examination of Fig. 3, form meshing engagements with upper and lower idler gears |99.

The idler gears |99 are meshed with upper 4 coin cylinder Referring again to Fig. 5, it will be noted that the idler gears |99 mesh additionally with ring gears ||2 of a coin cylinder ||3. Spaced beyond the coin cylinder I I3 is a third coin cylinder IM,l which, like the cylinders Il I and ||3, is provided with upper and lower ring gears H5 arranged to be driven by upper and lower idler pinions H6 which communicate movement from the coin cylinder I I3 to the coin cylinder I I4. Now it will be obvious that the coin cylinders are simultaneously rotated identical amounts by any movement of the upper compartment knob 16 through the action of gear 93, idler 94, gear 96, bevelled pinion |92, bevelled pinionI |53 and gears |91 and |58 on shaft |94.

The beforementioned movement of the coin cylinders functions to release the upper compartment door, and since the mechanisms associated with each cylinder for this purpose are identical, it will suffice to describe that which is directly actuated by one of them.

A vertically disposed shaft |25 journalled adjacent its upper and lower ends in the rotatable section of the device is provided with a finger |2| which may be positioned to register with anyone of a plurality of slots |22 formed in that edge of the coin cylinder which is adjacent to the shaft |25. The coin cylinder is that one which is intended for the reception of 25e pieces, it being contemplated that as many as 5 such coins may rest edge-on-edge in the cylinder. The finger |2| is accordingly adapted to occupy any one of 5 positions in which it registers with one of the slots |22 and is effectively placed in the path of a coin during rotation of the coin cylinder.

At this point, reference may be made to Fig. 8 for a more detailed understanding of tlre construction of the coin cylinder:

The body portion of the cylinder may be solid and of cylindrical form externalv, its upper and lower ends as indicated at |23 and |241 being undercut to provide bearing surfaces which are journalled in the shelf |95 and the bracket |95.

A longitudinally extending slot |25, of sufcient width to freely accommodate the coin is formed in the cylinder and extends throughout its length, communicating at top and bottom with the ends of the cylinder. It will be apparent that the body of the cylinder is of sufficient strength and rigidity to exert a driving force upon the finger |2| through the medium of a coin resting in its slot |25.

Again referring to Figs. 2 and 3; above the bracket |96, shaft |29 is provided with a fixed collar |25 which carries an upwardly projecting pin |21 which operates in an arcuate slot |28 formed in the under surface of a compartment door release finger |29. Compartment release finger |29 is normally urged into engagement with collar pin |21 by a torsion spring |39 which surrounds shaft |29 and is anchored at its upper end to a collar |3| and at its lower end to the release finger |29. Thus the release nger |29 is yieldably urged to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5, through the action of spring |39.

An upper compartment door release finger |32 is freely mounted on shaft 29 and rides upon the collar |3| which, like the collar |25, is provided with an upstanding pin |33 arranged to be received in an arcuate slot |35 formed in the under surface of finger |32. A torsion spring |35 which surrounds the upper part of shaft |20 is anchored at its upper end to a collar |36 and at its lower end to the finger |32, so as to tend to rotate the latter to the position shown in the drawings in which the left end of its arcuate slot engages the pin |33. For the purposes of the description thus far, it will suffice to detail the result of movement of release finger |32.

A shaft |29 is journalled in the rotatable section of the machine in parallel relation with shaft |29, its lower end being supported in the horizontal extension of the rear wall 8| of the upper and lower compartments while the upper end of the shaft |45 is journalled in a bearing bracket 82 which also serves to journal the upper end of shaft |20. A collar finger |45 is fixed to shaft |49 in operative alignment with compartment door release finger |32, so that rotation of the latter part will communicate arcuate movement to shaft |49 through collar iin-ger |45.

Above collar finger |45 and pinned to shaft |40 is a latch cam pusher arm |45 which as will now be seen by reference to Fig.. 5 is arranged to actuate an arm |41, Fig. 9, of a bell crank |48 through the medium of a pusher link |49. Pusher link |49 is pivotally co-nnected to pusher arm |46 and the unit comprising these two parts is normally urged in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5 by a tensile spring |59. The opposite end of pusher link |49 as shown in Fig. 9 is reduced in diameter at |5| so as to provide a shoulder |52 which said shoulder is arranged to abut the edge of an aperture |53 formed adjacent the lower part of arm |41. It will be obvious that the rela-.- tionship between pusher link |49 and arm |41 of bell crank |48 is such that the link may operate to rock the arm in a clockwise direction, or; the arm may be moved independently of the link in the same direction.

The bell crank |48 is mounted on the inner end of a sleeve shaft |55 journalled at its inner end in a bracket |55, and at its forward end in a bearing bracket |5| both of which brackets depend from the upper wall |31 of the upper compartment. At its forward end, sleeve shaft |55 carries a latch |53 which normally occupies a position in which it is effective to retain the door |59 of the upper compartment 63 in locked position. To this end a bracket |38 is fixed to the rear surface of door |59 and the end of latch |58 normally lies between the surface of the door and the rear Wall of the bracket so as to effectually prevent opening of the door. On the other hand, when pusher link |49 is actuated as a result of the rotation of shaft |29 under the influence of a coin in the coin cylinder I9, door release finger |32 will function to rock collar finger |45, thus rotating shaft |49 and its latch camv pusher arm |45. As has been previously described, the movement of latch cam pusher arm |45 is communicated to pusher link |29, thus rocking arm |41 and consequently shaft |55, to thus move door latch |58 to ineffective position.

As will be seen in Figs. 5, 6 and 10, the latch |58 is pivoted intermediate its ends on a stud |59 which in turn is supported on the side wall o-f the compartment by the bracket ll. The rearwardly projecting arm of latch |58 is turned upwardly at |52 to form a cam fin-ger arranged to be acted upon by a cam |63, xed to the outer end of shaft |55. Finger |52 is yieldably urged into engagement with cam |63 by a leaf spring |54 anchored to the forward bearing bracket |55.

In the preceding discussion, it was assumed that the upper compartment door under discussion was intended to be released by insertion of a single 25 coin in the machine. It will be noted, however, that the door |59 is retained in locked position by any one or all of three latches generally similar to the latch |58. Thus the door opening operation may be controlled by any one of the coin cylinders ||3 and ||4 (Fig. 3) or, in the alternative by any combination or all of them. Now consider this latter aspect of the invention: a shaft |55 similar in all respects to the shaft |29 and similarly supported, is mounted opposite the coin cylinder ||3 and a shaft |56 like the shafts |29 and |55 is mounted opposite the coin cylinder i4. Adjustable fingers |51 and |68, similar in all respects to the finger l2! are supported upon the shafts |55 and I 66 and arranged to sweep the slots of the coin cylinders ||3 and ||4 as is the nger |2| with respect to the coin slots of the cylinder Mounted opposite the shafts |65 and |66 are similar shafts |18 and |1| which correspond functionally and structurally with the shaft |48 and like the latter, are provided with collar fingers |12 and |13. The collar finger |12 is arranged to actuate a pusher link |15 through an arm |88 and the collar linger |13 is arranged to actuate a pusher |16 through an arm |8|. The pusher links |15 and |16, as will be seen particularly in Fig. 5, are functionally similar, although structurally different from the pusher link |49. Thus, the pusher links |15 and |16 are effective to rock downwardly extending arms of independent bell cranks similar to and carried to the bell crank |48 (Fig. 9). It will beobviousl that these latter bell cranks are carried by independentl ones of the group of telescoping shafts of which the shaft which carries bell crank |48 is one.

Now reverting to the shaft |55 and its bell crank |48, in addition to arm |41, the .bell crank |48 includes an arm |85 which is normally urged in a counterclockwise direction by a spring |86 acting between the end of the arm and a bracket plate |81. Hence the bell crank |48 tends to rotate shaft |55 so as to position latch |58 in its door locking relationship. Furthermore, a set screw |88 which is threaded into the bracket |81 is capable of adjustment to the dotted line position indicated at |89 in which arm |85l is rotated suiciently to maintain the latch |58 out of locking engagement with .the door |58. Bell crank |8| is mounted on a tubular shaft |98 which is Within the shaft |55 and actuates at its forward end a latch |9|. Like the bell crank |48, the crank |8| is formed with a second arm similar in all respects to the arm |85 of bell crank |48 and, like the latter, the former arm is urged in a ccunterclockwise direction by a spring similar to the spring |86 and similarly mounted, hence the latch |9| is also yieldably` retained in door locking position. A set screw structurally and functionally similar to the set screw |88 is arranged to engage the se-cond arm of bell crank |8| so as to disable the latch |9|.

The bell crank |83 is mounted on the inner end of a solid shaft |95 which lies within the tubular shafts |55 and |98. Like the bell cranks |48 and |8| the crank |83 is formed with an arm similar to the arm |85, of the bell crank |48.

The second arm of bell crank |83 is urged in a counterclockwise direction by a, tensile spring similar to the spring |86 and similarly mounted. A set screw not unlike the set screw |88 which is also screwed into bracket. |81, is adapted to engage the second arm of bell crank |83 so as to maintain the latter in an angular position corresponding to that shown in dotted ouline for arm |85.` Thus a door latch |96, actuated by central shaft |95, is adapted to be engaged with or disengaged from the door locking bracket |38.

Reverting now to the description of the manner in which the upper compartment door |59 is released through the operation of a 25 coin in the coin cylinder It will of course be understood that under the circumstances enumerated and in the light of the fact that it was presumed that no coins would be in the cylinders ||3 and ||4, door latches |9| and |96 would have been disabled by a previous setting of the set screws |88 so as to leave control of the door eX- clusively to the latch |58.

It. will additionally be understood that if it were desired to cause the opening of the door asv |59 to .be dependent jointly upon the presence of coins in the cylinders I3 and ||4, that the pusher links |15 and |16 would be rendered effective by retraction of the set screws |88 which, under the circumstances just described, have served to disable their corresponding bell cranks |8`| and |83.

The pusher links |49, |15 and |16 are guided for reciprocatory movement and secured against displacement from their respective bell-cranks by a guide plate |98 which depends from the top wall |31 and is formed with similar apertures |99 in which the pusher links freely slide. A stop pin 288, fixed in each pusher link, acts against a stop plate 281| through which each link passes, to prevent the return spring |58, and its counter-parts (not shown) from withdrawing the links from engagement with their respective bell-cranks.

Now considering the means employed to control the opening ofV door 253 of lower compartment 64: Reference may be had to Fig. z, in winch the doors and' door operating mechanism of both compartments is shown, as well as to Figs. 3 and 'l in which the door operating mechanism alone is disclosed onA a larger scale,

The lower compartment .door operating knob r1 is carried on a short shaft 258 `)ournalied in the extension 15 0I' the stationary part of the housing and iorms one element of a coupling of which the second part 25| is carried on a shaft Journalled in the bearing bracket 88. A clutch 253' generally similar to the clutch 98 is arranged to communicate movement from knob 11 and shaft 252 to the gear 9c, which, as has been previously indicated, is supported on a short shaft 91.

Reverting now to clutch 258: One element of theclutch, 255, is pinned to short shaft 252, the second element 256 being slidably keyed to the shaft 91. Any positive form of driving engagement may be utilized between the clutch elements 255 and 256 and in the present instance a plurality of pins 251 Xed to one of the elements are arranged to engage suitable bores provided in the other.

Now it will be apparent that rotation of lower knob 11 is adapted to communicate movement though coupling 258-25I directly to pinion |82, and hence shaft |84-, so as to effect rotary movement of the coin cylinders ||-3, ||4 as has been previously described in connection with the operation of the upper compartment knob 16.

In order to prevent interference between the functional operations of the device, means is provided to prevent rotation of the upper compartment knob 16, when it is desired to open a lower compartment by operation of knob 1-1. To this latter end the upper knob 16 is automatically disconnected as an incident to operation of the knob 11.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, a rocker arm 265 is freely pivoted at 256 ona bearing bracket 281 which extends between, and is formed integrally with the bearing brackets 88 and 93. One arm of rocker 265 carries a roller 268 which rides in a short arcuate slot or cam section 269 formed in the peripheral surface of the` hub of clutch member 255. The second upwardly turned arm of rocker 265 is provided with a roller 218 which lies in a continuous circumferential groove 21| formed in the hub of slidable element 9| of clutch member 98. As has-been pointed out, the cam groove 289 in the hub of clutch element 255 is very short, so that a rocking movement is imparted to the rocker arm through its roller 268 immediately upon commencing a, turning operation of knob 11. Thus rocker arm 255 will be turned in a clockwise direction as viewed in the drawings to cause its upwardly projecting arm to disengage clutch element 9|, from clutch 99. To further safeguard the device against misoperation, we provide means to actually lock the upper compartment knob against movement as an incident to operation of the lower knob. As shown more clearly in Fig. 3, a locking pin 212, slidably mounted in bearing bracket 251 is normally positioned with its lower end in engagement with a short groove 213, formed in shaft 252 to the right of bearing bracket 88. When the pin 212 is in the position described, its upper end is substantially in bearing engagement with the surface of short shaft 81 and in alignment with a bore 215 which is formed in the shaft 81. It will be understood that since both the upper and lower door opening knobs are caused to return to a fixed initial position after each operation, that the cam grooves 213 and bore 215 will always align themselves with the locking pin 212.

Now when the lower compartment knob 11 is rotated, locking pin 212 will immediately rise to engage bore 215 in shaft 81, thereby locking the upper compartment knob 16 in inoperative position. Upon completion of rotation of knob 16, and its return to initial position, locking pin 212 will again drop into groove 213, thereby unlocking the upper compartment knob and the clutch element 255 will return to the position in which its cam groove 259 receives the roller 253 of rocker 295, thus permitting the clutch element 9| to re-establish a driving engagement between the upper compartment knob 19 and the coin cylinders. To urge the rocker and clutch elements to normal position, we employ a compression spring 218 which telescopes the shaft 92 and acts between the bracket 93 and the end wall of the slidable member 9| of the clutch.

Like the upper compartment actuating knob 16, the lower compartment knob 11 is returned to its normal or inoperative position under the inuence of a spring 219, one end of which is anchored to an enlarged hub portion of the shaft 250, the opposite end of the spring being :anchored to a pin 289 fixed to the front wall of the stationary part of the housing. A pin 28|, likewise fixed in the housing is arranged to engage thevend of an arcuate slot 282 formed in the inner surface of the hub of the hand knob so as to define a limiting or normal position of the parts.

In the description of the operation of upper compartment knob 15, it was pointed out that the coin cylinders Ill, H3 and H4, would be simultaneously actuated, thereby imparting movement to shaft and its fingers |29 and |32. Furthermore, it will be recollected that the finger |32 alone was involved in the opening of the upper compartment. Now considering the means employed to disable nger |29, which as will hereinafter be seen, is effective to release the lower compartment door.

Shaft |40, Figs. 2 and 3, upon which the pusher collar finger is keyed, is telescoped throughout its lower end by a sleeve 2855v which carries a collar finger 284 functionally and structurally similar to the collar finger |45. Collar finger 284 is aligned with release finger |29 and arranged to be driven thereby.y Thus movement of shaft |20 and its release fingers |29 and |32 would normally exert a rocking iniiuence on shaft |40 through collar finger |45, and a similar y formed with a slot 391.

movement would be communicated to the sleeve 285 through collar finger 284. Collar finger 284 is locked, however, when knob 16 is rotated to release the upper compartment door. To this latter end, a rocker arm 281 is pivotally supported on the stud 265, its upwardly extending arm being provided with a roller 283 which normally engages a short cam groove 290 in the peripheral surface of the hub of clutch element 89. The downwardly projecting bifurcated arms of rocker 281 are formed with bearing edges 29| which engage the bifurcated arm 292 of a lever 293 pivoted on a fixed stud 294. A second arm 295 of lever 293 extends rearwardly to overlie the forwardly projecting end 291 of a lever 298 pivoted intermediate its ends on a stud 299. A rearwardly projecting arm 990 of lever293 is turned upwardly to form a portion 39|, the upper end of which projects through an aperture 302 in the shelf |05.

A comb plate 303 fixed to the under surface of the shelf guides the upper end of arm 330 for reciprocatory movement in slot 302. A tensile spring 304, acting between arm 330 of lever 298, and a xed pin in the frame of the machine,

` tends to rotate lever 293 in a clockwise direction.

Now referring again to tubular sleeve 286 on shaft |40; adjacent its lower end, and spaced above the shelf |05, sleeve 235 is provided with a collar 395, the peripheral edge of which collar is As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, when upper compartment knob 16 is in its normal, or rest position, the upper end of arm 39| of lever 298, stands below the collar 309. When g knob 19 is rotated, however, lever 293 will be rocked in a clockwise direction by rocker 281, With the result that arm 295 of lever 293 will move lever 298 in counterclockwise direction, thereby shifting the upper end of arm 30| from the position shown in Fig. 3, into engagement with notch 391 of collar 306. As a consequence of the last mentioned sequence of movements, the sleeve 286 on shaft |40 will be locked against rotation. Thus when shaft |20 is rotated, door release finger |29 will remain stationary, spring |30 yielding because collar finger |45 is iixed to sleeve 286. Hence collar finger |45 will be prevented from acting to open the lower compartment door.

The upper compartment door release finger |32, is disabled when a lower compartment is to be opened, by means similar to that previously described for the disablement of iinger |29:

As shown particularly in Figs. 2 and 3, a bifurcated arm 3 i0 of a lever 3| I projects upwardly to a position in which it is adapted to partake of the movement of the upwardly extending arm of rocker 265. Lever 3| is pivoted on the stud 294, and like the lever 293, is formed with a rearwardly extending arm 3|5 which overlies an arm 3|9 of a lever SI1-pivoted on the stud 299. Lever 3|1 is formed with an upstanding end 320 which projects through the aperture 302, in shelf |05. A tensile spring 32|, acting between the upstanding arm 320 of lever 3|1 and a fixed pin in the frame of the machine, tendis to rotate lever 3|1 in a clockwise direction.

A collar 322, fixed to shaft |40 between collar 306 and the shelf |05, is formed with a notch 323 which is adapted to receive the upper end of arm 320. Now when the door release knobs are in idle position as shown in the drawings, arm 320 is disengaged from notch 323 in collar 322. When the lower compartment knob 11 is operated, rocker 265 will act upon arm 3|0 of lever 3| thereby forcing arm 320 to the leftward as viewed in the drawings against the action of its spring 32|. Thus the upper end of arm 320 will engage notch 323 in collar 30B to lock shaft |40 against movement, with the result that collar finger |45a will be prevented from actuating the upper compartment door release mechanisms.

In connection with the description of the operation of lower` compartment door knob 11, it was shown that the clutch 90 of the upper compartment door mechanism would be disabled. Similarly, when the upper compartment door knob is operated, the clutch 253 associated With the lower compartment door operating mechanism is also disconnected. To this end the downwardly projecting arm of rocker 281 is provided with a roller 325 which rides in a peripheral groove 326 formed in the hub portion of the slidable part 255 of clutch 253. Now when knob 16 is rotated with a consequent movement of rocker 231 in a counterclockwise direction, the roller 325 will draw the clutch part 256 to the right so as to disengage the latter from clutch member 255, and hence from the knob 11.

Like the lower compartment operating knob, the kno-b 'i6 is urged in a counterclockwise direction by a coil spring 328 which surrounds the hub of the short shaft 85. One end of the spring 328 is anchored to the hub, its opposite end being connected to a pin 329 xed to the body portion 15. An arcuate slot 330 formed in an enlarged portion of the hub is arranged to coact with a fixed pin 33| in the front wall 15, to arrest the knob in the position shown in the drawings as well as to limit clockwise rotation thereof.

It has been shown that the shaft |40 is provided with a pusher lever |46, adapted through intermediate connections to actuate a latch |58, which, among other latches, controls the opening of upper compartment door |59.

Similarly, the sleeve 286, above collar finger 284 is fitted with a pusher lever which may be connected to one arm of a bell crank 336 by a pusher link similar in all respects to the link |49 of Fig. 5. Bell-crank 335 is structurally and functionally similar toy the bell-crank |48 of Fig. 9. It will be recalled that bell-crank |48 is fixed to the external one of three telescoping shafts and such is the relationship of bell-crank 33B of Fig 2.

Thus, the bell-crank 336 is fixed to a sleeve shaft 331 the forward end of which is arranged to actuate a latch finger 333 similar to the latch |58 of Fig. 10. A sleeve 339, within the sleeve 331, carries a bell-crank 340 adapted to be rocked through a pusher link 34| and a collar nger on shaft |10 not unlike the collar linger |12. A central shaft 343 which telescopes within both the sleeves 331 and 339, carries a bell-crank 344 arranged to be actuated by a pusher` link 345 and a collar nger similar to the finger |13 on shaft |1|.

The sleeve 339 actuates a latch nger 346 and the sleeve 343 actuates a latch finger 341, the latter two fingers being functionally and structurally similar to the fingers |9| and |96 respectively, as shown in Fig. 6.

The nest of shafts 331, 339 and 343 are supported by bearing brackets 350 and 35| which depend from the floor 352 of the upper compartment 63.

The latch ngers 338, 345 and 341 are arranged to be received between the rear surface of the Iii lower compartment door 353 and a bracket 354 fixed to the rear surface of the door.

The invention further embodies means to simultaneously disable all of the latches of either compartment as might be necessary, for example, when access to the interior of any compartment becomes necessary for the purpose of effecting repairs for servicing the mechanism. In this connection, as is shown in Figs. 9, 11 and 27, the upper group of bell-cranks |48, |8| and |83 underlie a bail 369 carried by plunger 36| which projects upwardly through the top wall of the upper compartment and is surmounted by a shouldered head 352. A compression spring 363 acting between the upper surface of the top wall of the compartment, and the under surface of shoulder 362, tends to maintain the latter and its bail 330 in its raised, or inoperative position. However, when it is desired to simultaneously release all three latches |58, I5! and |93, depression of shouldered head 362 will serve to rock the bell-cranks |48, |8| and |33 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 9 to effect the desired purpose,

The bell-cranks 335, 340 and-3-^l4 associated f with the lower compartment door latches 338,

and 341 are adapted to be disabled by means of a bail 355 (Fig. 27) which is similar in all respects to the bail 363. An irregularly shaped operating rod 356 projects upwardly from the bail 395 through the top wall of the upper oompartment and is surmounted by a shouldered operating knob 361 generally similar to knob 362. A compression spring 393, acting between the top of the upper compartment and the under surface o-f the operating knob 361 tends to maintain bail 355 in ineffective position.

Now coming to the package. ejecting mechanism more fully disclosed in Figs. 12, 13, 14, i5, 16, 17 and 18. Each one of the pairs of upper and lower compartments is provided with means to eject or deliver afunit of the particular item carried therein as an incident to opening of the compartment door.

It will be recollected in connection with the description of the door releasing mechanism, that release of the door under control of the structure sh-own in Figs. 2 and l2, serves only to unlock the door. This unlocking operation serves to subject the door to the influence of a spring 430, one end of which, as shown in Fig. 12, acts upon the bottom wall 40| of the compartment, the body of the spring being wound about the pivotal support 492, upon which the door is mounted. The second end of the spring 409 is extended to a point on the inner surface of the door itself and the tendency of the spring is to move the door from its fully closed position to that shown in dotted outline at 403 in Fig. 12. It is contemplated that once the door has been released and moved to the dotted line position shown at 403 that the purchaser will grasp the knob 404 and open the door to the horizontal position indicated at 405 in the same figure. This manual operation on the part of the purchaser serves to prepare mechanism automatically eective to eject a unit of the article contained in the compartment, and simultaneously functions to condition mechanism effective to restore the door toits fully closed and latched position as shown by the positions at both compartment doors in Fig. 2. More particularly, a door closing link 406, pivotally connected to a rearwardly projecting lug 401 formed on the inner surface of the door, extends rearwardly to connect at 408 with an arm 409 of a rack link 410 pivotally supported at 4!! by a stud carried by the side wall of the compartment. Rack link 4|0 includes an arm 4i2 formed with a camming slot 4|3 which operates upon a roller 4|4 carried by a slide 415.

Fixed to the door 46! of the compartment, is an irregularly shaped bearing bracket 420. A gear 42! journalled on a stud 422 in bracket 420, meshes with rack 417 and is adapted to alternately drive or be driven by the rack. A spring drum 423 is fixed to one face of gear 42! and functions to urge the latter to move in a clockwise direction, that is, in a door closing direction. More specically, the spring drum 423 is provided with a spring 424, one end of which, as indicated at 426, is anchored to the internal surface of the drum. The second end of the spring, as shown at 426, is fixed to the stationary bearing stud 422, hence counterclockwise movement of gear t2! win serve to tension the spring 424 A cam disk 436 likewise journalled on stud 422, and pinned to both gear 42! and spring drum 423, is arranged to control the movement of the latter two parts. As shown in the drawings, the cam disk is provided with a radially extending slot 43! which is formed by a laterally turned stop 432 and a camming lip 433 so as to receive a pin 434 carried by one arm 435 of a lever 436. Lever 436 is pivotally supported on the horizontal surface of a shelf 437 which is formed by turning the upper edge of bearing bracketh426 laterally. Lever 436 is pivoted intermediate its ends on a stud 438 which engages the shelf 437, and a spring 439, acting between stud 436 and arm 435 of lever 436, tends to rotate the latter in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 14.. A pin 446, carried by the shelf 437 engages a notch 44! formed in an arm 442 of lever 436 so as to denne a limiting position of clockwise movement oi' the lever in which pin 434 on arm 435 is in position to abut stop 432 on cam disk 436.

Now considering the mechanism arranged to be actuated as an incident to rotation of gear 42! and its associated cam disk 430 and spring drum 423. As shown in Figs. 12 and 15, a pinion 445 journalled on a studi carried by bearing bracket 426 meshes with gear 42 I. A second pinion 446, likewise journalled on bracket 420, meshes with the pinion 445 as well as with a rack 447. Referring now to Figs. 12 and 16, the rack 447 is fixed to a plate 44S which underlies the bottom wall 46! of the compartment. Plate 448 is supported for free reciprocatory movement by a bearing bracket 449 which underlies the bottom wall of the compartment and is secured thereto by means such as an integrally cast lug 450 and bolts 45|. It will be understood that plate 448 extends longitudinally of the compartment, its extreme right edge as viewed in Fig. 17, being somewhat to the right of the center line of the compartment. A longitudinally extending slot 452 is formed in bottom wall of the compartment and a screw or other fitting 452--A projects therethrough from the plate 448 to engage a false bottom plate 453 which slides upon the bottom wall 40| of the compartment.

Adjacent its right-hand end, as viewed in the drawings, the false bottom 453 carries an abutment 455. Such an abutment is associated with each compartment of the machine, as is illustrated in Fig. 12.

When the door of a compartment is in its closed position, as illustrated by the upper compartment in Fig. 12, the abutment lies in substantial alignment with the forward edge of the stack of cartons associated with that particular compartment. When the compartment door occupies its open position, as shown by the lower compartment door in Fig. 12, the abutment lies to the rear of the stack of packages in that compartment. Thus during the cycle of operations involved in placing the required coins in the machine, releasing, opening, and closing the door, the abutment moves from the forward edge of its stack of cartons to a position rearwardly of the rear edge of the stack, and then returns to the forward edge. In this last mentioned abutment returning movement, the next package or carton is delivered to the forward end oi the compartment in readiness for removal in the next door opening operation.

In the upper compartment of Fig. 12, the package in readiness to be withdrawn upon the opening of the door is indicated in dotted outline at 466, the supply of reserve cartons is indicated by the stack 46! which will be seen to be carried in a chute, or well 462.

In the lower compartment the package ready to be withdrawn is indicatedI at 463. The reserve stack of cartons for the bottom compartment is shown at 464 and the well, or chute, in which the stack 464 is carried, is identified by the numeral 465.

It will be understood that abutment 465 as used in all compartments is structurally the same so that the following detailed description is applicable to the abutments of both upper and lower compartments. As shown in Figs. 16 and 17, the body of the abutment is generally rectangular in contour with its longitudinal dimension extending across the width of the compartment as is shown in Fig. 17. Intermediate its front and rear longitudinal edges 466 and 467 respectively, the upper surface of the body of the abutment is cut away to define a longitudinally eX tending channel 468. Furthermore, the front edge 466 is formed with a rectanguiarly shaped notch or recess 469, to provide clearance for the depending end of an apron 476 which, as will be seen in Fig. 16, is pivoted adjacent its upper edge 47| to the front wall 472 of the well, or chute, in which the packages are stored. Apron 470 is adapted for free pivotal movement in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 16, but is restrained against counterclockwise movement from the same position by virtue of the fact that its pivotal axis is spaced above the lower edge of wall 472.

When the abutment reaches its extreme forward position of travel, its rear edge 467 as indicated in Fig. 16, will underlie the forward edge of the next package in the stack, and the apron 470 will drop from the top surface of the last package to be ejected into the longitudinal channel 468. The position of the last package to be ejected is shown at 473 in Fig. 16 and the apron 470, at this phase of the cycle of operations, will be seen to be in a position to engage the righthand edge of package 473 as the abutment commences its return excursion. Thus apron 470 will effectively prevent the package 473 from being returned to the stack of packages which in this ligure are indicated at 475.

While the forward edge of the stack is maintained in the position shown by the rear edge 467 of abutment 455, the rear edge 0f the stack is prevented from dropping into the path of the abutment by means of a pair of similar three bladed supporting elements 486 pivotally supported at 419 on the rear wall 416 of the carton well.

Now referring to the lower compartment of Fig. 12 for a better understanding of the elements 488: They consist of two coplanar blades 48| and 482 which lie in the pivotal axis of the elements, and a normally disposed blade 483 whose plane intersects the pivotal axis. Leaf spring 485,1ixed to the rear wall of the compartment extends downwardly to engage the rearwardly projecting one of the blades, the lower end of the spring being cupped as shown to yieldably restrain the elements against rotation,

Now as the abutment moves forwardly from the position shown in the lower compartment of Fig. 12, its forward edge engages the blade 48| thereby causing the element 488 to commence a clockwise movement. As the leftward excursion of the abutment continues, the blade 483 rotates downwardly out of engagement with the spring 485, the depth ofthe channel 466 in the abutment being such as to freely receive the blade. As the blade 48| reaches a horizontal position underlying the next carton above that one which is being ejected, the blade 482 will be brought into engagement with the cup shaped end of leaf spring 485. As the leftward movement of the abutment continues, the necessity of providing for blade 483 to clear the rear wall of the abutment becomes apparent.

To this end the rear edge 451 of the abutment is formed with two downwardly extending slots 486 which register with and are of such size as to permit free passage of the abutment beyond to downwardly extending blade 483.

Hence, the forward excursion of the abutment is permitted to continue, the blade 48| meanwhile having been rotated into a position to underlie the rear edge of that one of the cartons which is immediately above the one presently being ejected by the abutment.

As has been explained, the rear edge 431 of the abutment will support the forward end of the stack of cartons while the abutment occupies its extreme leftward position as shown in dotted outl' line in Fig. 16. It will now be clear that the stack of cartons will be maintained out of the path of the abutment as the latter commences its return excursion to the position occupied in the lower compartment of Fig. 12.

Now coming to the method of dropping the next succeeding carton into the path of the abutment after the latter reaches its extreme rightward position. Referring again to the dotted outline position in Fig. 16, it will be seen that as t the return excursion of the abutment progresses, the support for the forward edge of the stack of cartons is withdrawn and finally when the forward wall 466 of the abutment engages the downwardly turned blades 483, the blades 48| supporting the rear edge of the stack will also be withdrawn. Finally, as the abutment reaches position shown in the lower compartment of Fig. 12, the next lowest package in the stack will have dropped into the path of the abutment in readiness for the next ejecting excursion of the latter.

To preclude the possibility of misoperation as might occur as a result of a partial opening of the compartment door, with a resultant incomplete cycle of abutment 455, we provide the following means:

A so-called full stroke mechanism is provided by the formation of a plurality of aligned apertures adjacent the left-hand edge of plate 448 as viewed in Fig. 18. As Shown in greater detail,

in Fig. 12, the beforementioned apertures include five of equal diameter as indicated at 388 and two end apertures 38| and 382 of relatively greater diameter. A dog 383, pivotally mounted on a stationary support 384 which is fixed to the side wall of the compartment is adapted to coact with apertures 388, 38| and 383. Dog 333 is of such dimensions that it cannot be fully received in any one of the apertures 388, but can be freely accommodated in the end apertures 38| and 382. When the abutment 455 is in its extreme right-hand position of travel as shown in the upper compartment of Fig. 12, dog 383 will freely drop into aperture 38|.

Referring now to the lower compartment of Fig. 12, it will be understood that as the plate 4418 moves to the left, that it will successively engage each one of the several apertures 388. During each such engagement with apertures 388, the dog 383 will assume the dotted line position shown in Fig. 16 and as will be apparent, it will be impossible to reverse the direction of plate 448 until the latter has moved so as to align dog 383 with aperture 38|. Hence when a compartment door is once partially opened, the cycle of operations mustv be completed by movement of the door to its full open position, thereby insuring delivery of the next package to the compartment as the door' is finally closed.

Similarly, when the door is fully opened and the closing operation commenced, it becomes impossible to reopen the door without having completed the closing operation.

After a compartment door has been opened and the contents thereof removed, the door is automatically returned to locked position. To this latter end, a cam disk 490, generally similar to cam disk 438 is journalled on a stud 49| which, like the stud 422, is carried by the bearing bracket 428. Likewise mounted on the stud 49|, and yieldably connected to the disk 498 is a spring drum 492. The yieldable connection between disk 498 and drum 492 is provided by a coiled spring 485 which is pinned to the disk at 496 and extends in a counterclockwise direction around stud 49| to be pinned at its opposite end to the body of the spring drum at 491. In addition the yieldable connection between the spring drum and disk, the former part is yieldably maintained in the position shown in Fig. l5 by a coil spring 498 which is anchored at 499 to the inner surface of the drum and at 588 to the stationary stud 49|.

The cam disk 498 is formed with a peripheral aperture 58| defined by a laterally turned lug Ertl-A. A downwardly projecting stud 582 carried by arm 442 of lever 436 is arranged to lie in the aperture 58| when the parts are in their door closed positions as shown in Fig. 13.

The movement of spring drum 423 which occurs as an incident to a doorl opening operation, is communicated to the spring drum 492 through the medium of a tape 583 which is anchored adjacent its ends to both drums.

Now as a door opening operation is commencing the cam lip 433 on disk 438 causes stud 434 on lever arm 435 to ride on to the front face of disk 438. This movement communicated to stud 582 causes the latter to move from a position just forward of the face of disk 498 into a position to abut the stop 58|--A. Hence while cam disk 438 is rotating during the opening operation, its companion disk 498 is locked against movement by the stud 582. As the opening operation progresses, it will be evident Vthat the movement communicated to spring barrel drum 452 through tape 553 will compress spring 495 thus creating a bias on the part of cam disk 450 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. l Simultaneously, the compression of spring 458 within the spring drum itself will store energy tending to rotate the spring drum in a counterclockwise direction.

Now as the door opening operation is completed, the slot 45| in cam disk 435 again comes into alignment with stud 434 whereupon the latter drops into the position shown in solid outline in Fig. 14. The stud 552 meanwhile was moved out of position to block the cam disk 465. Thus the latter part, under the bias of spring 495 immediately commences to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. The violence of the movement thus set up by spring 495 is cushioned by any desirable form of air cylinder 5111 carried by an extension H of the bearing bracket 42|). Air cylinder 5|0 includes a piston 5| 2 which is connected to cam disk 495 by a crank 5|3 journalled on stud 5|4 in disk 450. Toward the end of the rotary movement of cam disk 490 in a counterclockwise direction, a cam lip 515, struck outwardly from its surface engages the stud 502 so as to cam the latter rearwardly into the path of stop 55|. This last mentioned movement of stud 502 will rock lever 436 so as to disengage stud 434 from stop 43|. Cam disk 435 as well as spring 458, is thereby freed to rotate under the influence of spring 424, as a result of which the gear 42| will be rapidly rotated in a clockwise direction under the energy stored in both springs so as to accomplish a rapid door closing operation.

It will be understood that when cam disk 456 completes the beforementioned movement, the stud 434 will again drop into notch 43| thereby removing stud 502 from notch 500 so as to leave the parts in their initial or idle positions.

Now coming to the coin handling elements of the device:

The front wall 66 of the stationary coin receiving head G5, which surmounts the top of the machine (Figs. 1 and l2), is formed with three coin slot apertures 520, 52| and 522 which may be adapted to receive nickels, dimes and twentyfive cent pieces respectively, it will be understood that the opposite end wall of part B5 (not shown) may be formed with similar apertures to receive similar coins.

Apertures 52|] to 522 inclusive communicate with similar inclined coin runways 523 which eX- tend from thev openings in the respective end wallsl of the part 65 to a point overlying and closely adjacent the upper surface 524 of a universally supported intermediate coin device 525. Coin device 525 (Figs. 2 and 5) is supported adjacent its upper surface 524 by a conventional gimbal ring system including a ring 525 journalled on diametrically opposed pins 521. Pins 521, in turn,.are journalled in stationary bearing brackets 528. Gimbal ring 526 is provided with inwardly projecting pins 529 which describe a diameter of the ring normally disposed to the aXs of pins 521. Pins 529 engage suitable bores formed adjacent the upper end of the body of part 525, as a consequence of which the latter is permitted a slight degree of universal movement `so as to compensate for any angularity of the machine, such as would result from its being placed upon an inclined driveway. It will be understood that the respective coin runways 523 communicate at their lower ends with correate coin device 525. Thus the coins pass from the coin runways to the bottom of the intermediate coin device 525 and thence into separate coin chutes 535, 531 and 532, the lower ends of which overlie the coin cylinders H3 and H4.

Provision is made for the return of coins which may have inadvertently been dropped into the machine. As shown in Fig. 2, a coin return knob 18 is effective to simultaneously release such coins as may then be in all of the coin cylinders iii, H3 and ||4. Return knob 13 is carried on a short shaft 545 adapted for reciprocatory movement. Rearwardly of knob 18, the shaft 548 carries a collar 54| which is slidably fitted in a cylindrical bracket 542 fixed to the rear surface of, andcommunicating at its forward end with an aperture of equal diameter termed in the front surface of wall 15. The rear wall of bracket 542 is formed with an aperture adapted to slidably receive shaft 545, and the latter is urged in a leftward direction, as viewed in the drawings by a coiled spring 543 which acts between the collar 54| and the inner, or bottom wall of the bracket 542. A pin 544, fixed to shaft 540, limits leftward movement of the shaft at the point where collar 54| is ush with the outer surface of wall 15.` An intermediate shaft 545 is slidably supported in the lower ends of the bearing brackets 83 and 93, in aXial alignment with shaft 545. The normal position of this intermediate shaft is such that its forward end 546 is spaced from the inner end of shaft 546. A collar 541, fixed to shaft 545 in a position to abut bearing bracket 83, serves to limit leftward movement of the shaft under the influence of a spring 548 which acts between a collar 545 and the bearing bracket 93. shaft 545, as shown at 549, is spaced from the headed end 550, of a shaft 55|, slidably supported in the bearing bracket |61. A coiled spring 552, acting between the head 550 of shaft 55|, and the inner end of a bore formed in bracket lill, yieldably urges shaft 55| to the left, as viewed in the drawings.

Adjacent its right-hand end, shaft 55| is provided with a camming nose 555 which is pinned to the shaft and normally abuts bracket |01 so as to denne a leftward limit of travel of its shaft.

Referring now to Figs. 28, 29 and 3), the camming nose 555 of shaft 55| is arranged to engage a roller 555 carried on an arm 551 which is pinned adjacent its upper end to a slidable plate 558, which underlies the shelf upon which the coin cylinders are journalled. Plate 558 is normally urged in a leftward direction as viewed in Fig. 29 by a tensile spring 555 which acts between a pin 56| carried by the plate, and a fixed pin 562 supported on shelf |05. An elongated aperture 145 formed in shelf |55, permits free reciprocatory movement of pin 55|. Plate 558 is formed with three spaced parallel apertures 146, the normal position of which, as viewed in sponding channels in the body of the intermedi- Figs. 29 and 30, is to the leftward of the coin slots 141, of each of the respective coin cylinders. Furthermore, in the normal or rest position of the coin cylinders their respective slots lie parallel with the apertures 146 in plate 558. A short chute-like element 143 is fixed to the lower surface of plate 558 in underlying relation with respect to each of the apertures 146 so as to be moved with the plate. The lower ends of the chute elements 148 lie closely adjacent, but spaced above and to the left of the upper ends of three similar groups of chutes generally indicated at in Fig. 29.

The inner, or right hand end of 

